'Corvallis' dropping for a win

AUBURN, Wash. - Corvallis Dee seems nicely placed to rekindle his career in Thursday's Emerald Downs feature, a 1 1/16-mile race for $17,500 claimers that has lured a field of 10.

Corvallis Dee, 5, appeared to have the brightest of futures after winning the rich Gottstein Futurity here as a 2-year-old. His subsequent career has been interrupted by injuries, however, and he is now riding a 10-race losing streak. Corvallis Dee went 0 for 5 here last season, but he did finish second to $20,000 claimers when sent 1 1/16 miles. He will be making the third start of his current campaign and dropping to a career-low level, and he seems likely to show his best stuff. He probably needed his first two starts of the year, both at a mile, and trainer Bud Klokstad has put two useful interim works into him since he ran sixth to $20,000 claimers going a mile on June 23.

For the Prize figures to make his presence felt in the late going. For the Prize, a 4-year-old son of Will's Way from the barn of trainer Chris Stenslie, closed well for third when racing under the same conditions on June 22. He came back on July 4 to run a fast-finishing fourth behind $25,000 company at a mile, and he should appreciate moving back out to 1 1/16 miles.

Also a threat is A Maximum Buzz, who has posted two front-running wins at a mile in his last three starts. A Maximum Buzz drew inside his pace competition and may again be the one to catch.